by Agke Grow
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne women’s soccer team has turned in strong performances in its last two matches. Unfortunately for the team, it only has one win to show for its efforts.
This week’s challenging conference schedule featured the University of Redlands and Cal Lutheran University, and provided an early indication of where ULV stands. The Leopards stepped up to the challenge.
On Saturday, ULV hosted Redlands, looking to improve on its 2-0 mark in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play and prove that they can beat anyone in the conference.
Things started out well for La Verne, who began controlling possession from the opening whistle. The team built up pressure, and in the 33rd minute, a Katie Zwissler cross, met by Kelly Black’s head, found the back of the net. Five minutes later, sophomore striker Erica Borbon scored, and La Verne took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
La Verne continued to dictate the game’s pace in the second half, and Zwissler added an unassisted goal in the 74th minute to seal Redlands’ fate.
ULV’s defense held Redlands to only four shots in the last 25 minutes, and all were handled easily by sophomore forward Heather Cooper, who is now the team’s everyday keeper. Kim Schrepfer, the regular goalie, suffered ligament damage in her knee and is sidelined for the remainder of the year.
The 3-0 win improved La Verne’s overall record to 4-5, while Redlands fell to 3-4.
Head coach Zwissler said after the match, “Redlands is always a tough game, but we’re getting healthy now and starting to play as a team.
“Heather’s doing an awesome job in goal. She’s not trained to be a keeper, but she’s stepping up and doing well.”
“The defense was on top of things, and I’m getting more comfortable in goal,” said Cooper after the shutout, in only her fourth start in goal. “Each time it gets a little bit easier.”
Kelly Black, a junior midfielder, said, “Everyone has been hurt, but now people are adjusting to new positions, and things are coming together.”
Wednesday night, ULV played host to Cal Lu in a contest between SCIAC favorites. A battle for possession in midfield characterized the match’s first 10 minutes.
The Regals managed a few shots early, but then ULV began pouring pressure on Cal Lu’s goal, highlighted by a Borbon shot that sailed just right of goal, and a Katie Zwissler shot off a corner kick that flew inches over the roof of the net.
Just as it seemed inevitable that La Verne would score, Cal Lu turned the tide. In the 32nd minute, one well struck shot by Cal Lu’s Alix Rucinsi from 25 yards out beat Cooper to her left. Although it was only the second dangerous shot Cal Lu produced all half, it was good enough for a 1-0 lead after 45 minutes.
La Verne started the second half quickly, and nearly leveled the score just three minutes in, only to see a shot strike the left post. A minute later, a Borbon chipshot nearly caught the Cal Lu keeper napping, and La Verne was again heaping pressure on the Cal Lu goal.
Alas, is was not the Leopards’ night. Another brilliantly struck long-range shot form Cal Lu, this time by Betsy Fischer, sailed over the outstretched Cooper and into the La Verne goal, making the score 2-0 with 33 minutes remaining.
ULV fought back and continued to produce chance after chance, but never managed to score. Two set pieces off of corner kicks deserved to be scored, but one was headed just over the bar, and the other was blocked by a Cal Lu defender after a scramble at the near post.
With seven minutes to go, ULV was still threatening to score. Zwissler spotted out sophomore defender Nancy Santana making a run at goal, but her shot went wide right. Two minutes later, Lieberman hit freshman midfielder Suzie Sateri with a through ball 18 yards from goal, but Sateri’s shot was booted away by a defender.
ULV outshot Cal Lu 16-11 and held a slight edge in possession time, but failed to capitalize on their chances.
“We couldn’t get the ball in the net,” said Cooper. “We won most of the 50/50 balls, but just couldn’t score.”
Although the result of the match is a bitter pill to swallow, the run of play proved that La Verne is capable of competing at the level of the top SCIAC teams. ULV will have an opportunity to play Cal Lu again on Oct. 23. Until then, the Leopards will continue with their SCIAC schedule starting at Pomona-Pitzer on Oct. 2, followed by a home match against Occidental on Oct. 6.
La Verne’s loss put them at 4-6 overall, 3-1 in the SCIAC, while Cal Lu, 6-3 overall, is a perfect 4-0 in the SCIAC.
